Saul Basckin Actionsa - EThekwini

⚠️ POWER OUTAGE UPDATE ⚠️

A widespread power outage is currently affecting parts of North Durban, KwaMashu, Phoenix, uMhlanga, Durban North and Tongaat.

According to an update received from the Head of Department, EMD is experiencing a loss of approximately 300MVA due to the loss of both incoming Eskom supplies on the Northern Network. This has been compounded by multiple trips at the Ottawa Substation.

Technical teams have been dispatched and are currently conducting on-site investigations.

Areas north of Durban are affected, from Durban North through to Tongaat.

As a precaution, residents and businesses are encouraged to switch off non-essential electrical equipment and appliances, including geysers, air conditioners, pool pumps, stoves and other high-consumption appliances. This will help protect equipment from possible power fluctuations when supply is restored and reduce the immediate demand on the network.

Estimated restoration time: 20:30 (subject to change as investigations continue).

Further updates will be provided as soon as they become available.

Cllr Saul Basckin

Selective Outrage and Political Hypocrisy

The Democratic Alliance has been quick to circulate and promote outrage about the salary of the eThekwini Municipal Manager.

But there is one glaring problem with their argument.

The City Manager appointed in DA-run Cape Town reportedly earns more than the City Manager in eThekwini.

If the DA believes Municipal Manager salaries are excessive, then surely that principle should apply equally in Cape Town.

Or does outrage only apply when it is politically convenient?

Residents deserve consistency.

You cannot condemn a salary in eThekwini while remaining silent about a higher salary in a municipality governed by your own party.

That is not accountability.

That is selective outrage.

What makes this even more interesting is that the Democratic Alliance is part of the Government of National Unity.

The very salary framework governing Municipal Managers is established through national regulations issued by the Minister responsible for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

So the obvious question becomes:

Has the DA raised objections within the GNU?

Have they formally engaged the Minister responsible for determining these salary bands?

Have they proposed reforms to the remuneration framework?

Have they called for changes to the regulations?

If so, where is the evidence?

If not, why not?

It is easy to produce social media videos designed to create outrage.

It is much harder to do the work required to change national policy.

The truth is that large metropolitan municipalities require highly skilled executives.

Cities with multi-billion-rand budgets cannot be managed by amateurs.

Competitive salaries are necessary to attract people with the experience, qualifications and leadership skills required to run organisations of this scale.

The problem is not necessarily the salary.

The problem is whether residents are receiving value for money.

If an executive earns millions, then residents should expect results.

They should expect functioning infrastructure.

They should expect financial discipline.

They should expect improved service delivery.

They should expect accountability.

And where performance falls short, there should be consequences.

That is the real issue.

Not a salary figure presented without context.

Before politicians throw stones, they should first examine their own backyard.

Glass houses and stones rarely make a good combination.

Residents deserve facts, consistency and accountability—not selective outrage driven by political convenience.

Selective Outrage and Political Hypocrisy

The Democratic Alliance has been quick to circulate and promote outrage about the salary of the eThekwini Municipal Manager.

But there is one glaring problem with their argument.

The City Manager appointed in DA-run Cape Town reportedly earns more than the City Manager in eThekwini.

If the DA believes Municipal Manager salaries are excessive, then surely that principle should apply equally in Cape Town.

Or does outrage only apply when it is politically convenient?

Residents deserve consistency.

You cannot condemn a salary in eThekwini while remaining silent about a higher salary in a municipality governed by your own party.

That is not accountability.

That is selective outrage.

What makes this even more interesting is that the Democratic Alliance is part of the Government of National Unity.

The very salary framework governing Municipal Managers is established through national regulations issued by the Minister responsible for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

So the obvious question becomes:

Has the DA raised objections within the GNU?

Have they formally engaged the Minister responsible for determining these salary bands?

Have they proposed reforms to the remuneration framework?

Have they called for changes to the regulations?

If so, where is the evidence?

If not, why not?

It is easy to produce social media videos designed to create outrage.

It is much harder to do the work required to change national policy.

The truth is that large metropolitan municipalities require highly skilled executives.

Cities with multi-billion-rand budgets cannot be managed by amateurs.

Competitive salaries are necessary to attract people with the experience, qualifications and leadership skills required to run organisations of this scale.

The problem is not necessarily the salary.

The problem is whether residents are receiving value for money.

If an executive earns millions, then residents should expect results.

They should expect functioning infrastructure.

They should expect financial discipline.

They should expect improved service delivery.

They should expect accountability.

And where performance falls short, there should be consequences.

That is the real issue.

Not a salary figure presented without context.

Residents deserve facts, consistency and accountability—not selective outrage driven by political convenience.

Cllr Saul Basckin

The people of Phoenix are tired of being ignored.

For years, residents and civic organisations have been raising concerns about community parks, playgrounds and public open spaces being unlawfully taken from the people they were intended to serve.

The real scandal is not only what happened to these public spaces — it is the City’s complete failure to act.

Complaints were made.

Objections were lodged.

Evidence was submitted.

Yet the Municipality appears to have done everything possible except take meaningful action.

The City cannot simply ignore residents and hope this issue goes away.

The people of Phoenix deserve answers.

They deserve to know why their concerns have not been properly acknowledged, why enforcement action has not been taken, and why public land was not protected.

Those responsible, whether developers or municipal officials, must be held accountable.

Silence is not accountability. Ignoring residents is not governance. The people of Phoenix deserve better.

SIU Report Ignored? ActionSA Lays Criminal Charges Against eThekwini Municipal Manager

The real question is why the recommendations of the SIU’s R9 Proclamation investigation have still not been fully implemented while residents continue to suffer from corruption, wasteful expenditure, failing infrastructure and poor service delivery.

No public official should be above accountability. Parliament relies on truthful information to perform its oversight role, and ratepayers deserve answers about what happened to the SIU findings, why recommendations were not implemented, and whether disciplinary, administrative and blacklisting actions were ignored.

The people of eThekwini deserve transparency, accountability and action — not excuses.

The walls are closing in at eThekwini.

ActionSA MP Alan Beesley will tomorrow lay criminal charges against the eThekwini Municipal Manager following statements made before Parliament’s SCOPA committee regarding the SIU investigation.

No public official is above the law.

If evidence was knowingly withheld, misrepresented, or ignored before Parliament, then there must be consequences. The SIU findings and recommendations cannot simply be brushed aside while residents continue paying the price for corruption, mismanagement, and failed accountability.

South Africans deserve the truth.
Ratepayers deserve accountability.
Parliament must be respected.